Key ring and holder therefor



Aug. 24, 1937. s. PETERS 2,090,962

KEY RING AND HOLDER THEREFOR Filed April 16, 1957 Fig; 5.

Fig. .9.

' Znwentor ttorneg STEPHEN PETERS.

Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Stephen Peters, Omaha, Nebr.

Application April 16, 1937, Serial No. 137,237

5 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in key rings, and includes a holder for supporting a key ring. The invention has for its objects to provide such a construction that a key will not 5 become detached from the ring accidently but will require intentional, manual force for said detachment, but will be convenient in use to permit keys to be placed on the ring. The invention includes a holder of such construction that 10 the key ring will not become detached therefrom except by intentional manual force of an operator, but will permit convenient and ready attachment of the key ring.

The invention consists of the new and useful 15 construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it being F understood that changes may be made in form, size, proportions and minor details, said changes being within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a key ring and holder therefor embodying my invention, a part of a belt being shown.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the key ring and its locking-band and Fig. 4 is a side View of the same. Fig. 5 is a view similar to the view shown in Fig. 3, the locking-band being omitted.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the ring holder. Fig. 7 is a side view of the same. Fig. 8 is a top plan View of the locking-ring and Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the key ring.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, the key ring-portion I is provided with a pair of approximately parallel arms II and I2, each provided with a notch I3 best shown in Fig. of the drawing, the arm being provided near its end with a pair of opposed notches or slots [4 (Fig. 4).

The arm l2 has a part which is disposed. at right-angles thereto to provide a locking-bar I5 having a slot l 6 opening on its end as best shown in Fig. 9; and on account of the formation of the slot IS a pair of contact-fingers l5 will be provided.

Numeral ll indicates an elongated lockingband adapted to engage in the notches I3 for enclosing the arms II and preventing said arms from moving outwardly from each other and thereby preventing the loss of keys (not shown) which might be carried by the ring.

Also it will be noted that any outward swinging movement of the locking-bar I5 will be prevented since the fingers l5 engage in the of slots [4 of the arm ll.

The ring-portion I0 is constructed of resilient material, such as spring-steel, and in operation, for mounting a key thereon (the key, as usual, being provided with a loop for receiving the ring III), the arms II and. [2 are manually pressed toward each other until the band ll becomes loose on said arms, and after this band is released fromthe notches l3 it may be readily removed. The arms II and I2 may then be manually pressed outwardly from each other until the fingers l5 move from the slots M of the arm II to permit the key to be mounted on said ring-portion l0.

After a key has been mounted on the key ring, the arms II and I2 are manually pressed toward each other, the slot l6 of the locking-bar l5 being of adequate length to permit said arms to approach each other when forcibly pressed, and the band I1 is then replaced in normal position on said arms and in engaging position with the notches I3.

To remove keys from the key ring the operation, of course, will be reverse to the operation described.

It may be stated that at least two locking means are provided to prevent accidental loss of keys from the ring, one being the arm l5 which is locked in the slots l4, and the band ll which prevents spreading apart of arms H and I2.

Since key rings are often supported upon belts and are subjected to severe stresses and usage especially when loaded with a large number of keys, they should be of strong construction, and in the present instance it will be seen that the locking-band I1 is firmly seated in the notches l3 and is held in normal position since the arms II and I2 resist any pressure toward each other.

To permit the key ring to be carried about I provide a holder l8 consisting of a single metallic strip, bent to form a loop for receiving a belt 23 or other support, said loop consisting of a pair of approximately parallel members I!) and 20, bent adjacent to their ends to form a hook 2| for receiving the locking-bar IS, the loop-member 20 being bent outwardly above the hook 2| to provide a guide or contact-finger 22 for convenience when attaching the key ring to the keyholder.

While the key ring, together with the keys thereon, could be carried in the owners pocket,

pair

it is the custom, generally, to carry the ring on V that the key ring may be conveniently attached to or'detached from the holder, and it will not become detached therefrom accidently since the form of the hook and finger 22 provide a constricted passageway m at the top of the hook.

I claim as my invention,-

1. A key ring comprising a curved resilient body-member provided with a pair of opposed, outwardly projecting arms, one of said arms being provided with a pair of slots, the other arm of said pair having a part bent at approximately right-angles therefrom and providing a lockingbar with terminal contact-fingers for slidable movements in the slots of the first named arm,

and a locking-band embracing said arms for preventing a sliding movement of said locking-bar.

2. In a key ring, a resilient body of circular form having a pair of outwardly projecting flexible arms, one of said arms being provided with a pair of slots, the other arm of said pair being bent at right-angles to provide a locking-bar for a slidable movement in the slots of the first named arm, and means on said arms to prevent a slidable movement of the locking-bar relative to said first named arm.

3. In a key ring, a resilient body of circular form provided with a pair of outwardly projecting arms each provided with a notch, one of said arms being provided with a pair of opposed slots,

the other arm of said pair having a part disposed at right-angles thereto to provide a locking-bar with contact-fingers for detachable engagements and a slidable movement in the slots of the first named arm, and a locking-band adapted to be seated in said notches in engagement with said arms. a

4. In a key ring, a metallic strip of circular form provided with a pair of outwardly projecting arms, one of said arms having a part disposed at right-angles thereto to provide a locking-bar for engaging the first named arm, said arms being resilient to permit longitudinal movements of the locking-bar for disengagement from said first named arm, and a locking-band extending around said arms to prevent longitudinal movement of the locking-bar.

5. In a key ring, a metallic strip of circular form provided with a pair of outwardly projecting arms provided with notches, one of said arms being provided near its end with a pair of opposed slots, the other arm of said pair having a part bent at right-angles therefrom to provide a locking-bar provided with a pair of contact-fingers for engaging in the slots of the first named arm to prevent lateral movements of said lockingbar, said arms being resilient to permit sliding movements of said contact-fingers in the slots of the first named arm, and a locking-band adapted to be disposed in engagement with said arms in the notches thereof.

STEPHEN PETERS. 

